Dennis "Duck" Walling came to West Texas State out of Munday, Texas, High School, as a 6-5 forward. Playing for coach Gus Miller, Walling started as sophomore for the 1951-52 team that won the Border Conference and finished 18-9. He captained the 1953-54 that went 13-7. Walling's three-year varsity career record was 40-27.
He actually received his Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in Secondary Education in 1953. After finishing his playing career the following year, he served as an assistant basketball coach at Dalhart, Texas, High School for two years and then entered the U.S. Army, where he was named to the All-Service cage team in 1957. Walling earned his Master of Education degree in 1955.
Walling's first head coaching job was at Decatur, Texas, High School, where he compiled a 34-13 record in two years, before moving on to Decatur Baptist College (later known as Dallas Baptist University). His teams never won less than 20 games during his eight years and his overall record was 189-73.
He was hired at his alma mater prior to the 1967-68 season and he turned the Buffs around with a 10-11 record after they had recorded a worst-ever 1-19 mark the year before.
Walling recruited junior college all-American Simmie Hill, and Hill became an all-American during the 1968-69 campaign, as the Buffs went 18-8 and lost in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. Walling's six-year coaching record at WT was 82-66.
